St. Mary's Church
Annin Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Parish organized 1847 at Sartwell in the "Irish Settlement," originally formed 1842-60. Log church built 1848; present one completed 1871. Resident pastor long served Roman Catholics throughout McKean and Potter counties, and this was the "mother church" of those at Port Alleghany, Bradford, Smethport, Eldred, Duke Center, and Costello. It later became a mission of St. Raphael's at Eldred.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
St. Mary's grew out of the "Irish Settlement" of northern McKean County, whose families arrived between 1842 and 1860. The parish was organized in 1847, worshipping first in a log church of 1848 before completing the present building in 1871. For years its resident pastor rode a wide circuit, serving Catholics across McKean and Potter counties and making this the mother church of congregations in half a dozen surrounding towns.
Why it matters
The parish traces the Irish Catholic immigration that carried the faith into rural northern Pennsylvania, where a single frontier church could anchor Catholic life across two counties.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Pioneer Oil Museum14.3 mi away
Food & drink
- Subway8.4 mi away · 109 Oswayo Street, Shinglehouse, PA
- Sprague's Maple Farms9.9 mi away · 1048 Portville-Obi Road, Portville, NY
- Four Mile Brewing, LLC12.6 mi away · 202 East Green Street, Olean, NY
- Old Library Restaurant12.9 mi away · 116 South Union Street, Olean, NY
- Union Tea Cafe13.2 mi away · 301 North Union Street, Olean
- Wendy's13.4 mi away · 447 North Union Street, Olean, NY
Places to stay
- Old Library Inn B&B12.9 mi away · 120 South Union Street
- Holiday Inn Express13.6 mi away · 101 Main Street, Olean, NY
- Best Western Plus University Inn13.7 mi away · 3057 Route 417, Olean, NY
- Hampton Inn & Suites13.8 mi away · 110 Jack Murphy Boulevard, Olean, NY
- Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Olean/Allegany14.1 mi away · 3234 West State Street, Olean, NY
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Olean14.3 mi away · 3270 West State Street, Olean, NY
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Related events
- · Founding of the Irish Settlement
Themes & tags
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